Container



Nov. 21, 1933. H J MILLER 1,935,653

CONTAINER Filed Jan. 27, 1930 |NVENTOR Patented Nov. 21, 1933 PATENT o Ic 1,935,653 CONTAINER Henry J. Miller, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to .American Can Company, corporation of New Jersey New York, N. Y., a

Application January 27, 1930. Serial No. 423,653 1 Claim. (01. 220 -29) The present invention relates to a, container and has particular reference to a container having a heremetically sealed closure and a supplemental re-closure cover.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a container, end and cover which provides for hermetic sealing in the first instance and which, when opened, may be temporarily re-closed.

, position and to snap over a container part when being assembled and to securely engage the container part when in closing position.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a supplemental frictional closure provided with a resilient edge adapted to engage under a formed part of the container.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of the sealed container and supplemental cover, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the container illustrated in Fig. 1. 7

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 33 in Fig. 1.

The container of the present invention embodies a container body 11 provided with a bottom end member 12 which may be secured thereto in a double seam. The upper end of the body 11 is secured by a double seam 13 to a top end 14, this seam protruding outwardly beyond a line passing through the major surface of the cylindrical wall of the body 11 and parallel with its axis. The wall of the container body 11 directly beneath and adjacent to the double seam 13 is bulged outwardly to provide an annular shoulder consisting of a flat annular vertical wall 15 connecting with the wall of the body in a lower tapered or inclined wall 16 and in a similar upper wall 17. The outer diameter of the shoulder wall 15 is greater than the diameter of the double sea 13, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

By means of the end member 14 secured to the body 11 in the double seam 13, a hermetically sealed closure is provided and the product which is packed in the container is thus retained in a fresh condition until it reaches the ultimate consumer. This form of container has been used with great success for the packaging of coffee which is a product that'must be tightly sealed, often in vacuum, to best preserve its aroma.

When the container is to be opened, the end member 14 may be cut and removed in the ordinary well known manner. This opening may be done with the ordinary can opener or the end member 14 may be formed of lighter gage metal such as taggers tin in which event the end may be cut out with a knife or other sharp instrument.

Provision is made for a re-closure after the end member 14 has been removed which comprises a supplemental cover 18 provided with a flat annular wall 19 and a depending flange 21 joined to the wall 19' by a rounded portion 22. The entire flange 21 is bent inwardly and terminates in a hooked or inwardly bent peripheral edge 23 which is of less diameter than the outer diameter of the wall 15 and is adapted to be slightly expanded thereby. This peripheral bent edge is suiiiciently yielding by reason of the spring in the metal to permit of its passage along the straight wall 15 when it is being placed into assembled position on the container and thereafter to contract into engagement with the inclined wall 16 below the wall 15. v

The greatest diameter of the supplemental cover 18 is in excess of the diameter of the shoulder wall 15 and also of the double seam 13 and when the cover is placed in position to act as a re-closure, its annular wall 19 is brought downwardly and rests upon the upper edge of the double seam 13.

In this position the upper end of the container, after it has been opened by removal of the end member 14, is completely closed by the vsupplemental "cover, its peripheral edge 23 at such time fitting snugly against the tapered bottom wall 16 and beneath the shoulder wall 15. Such a connection is not hermetic but the seal provided is sufficient to retain the product packed therein in a fresh condition during the relatively short period of its use.

The construction of the supplemental cover 18 is such as to permit ready application of the same on the upper end of the container, its peripheral edge 23 passing freely over the double seam 13 and engaging with the tapered wall 1'7 as the supplemental cover is being applied, this action springing the edge sufficiently to allow it to move along the wall 15. When the bottom taper 16 is reached, this edge snaps back into normal shape and tightly engages the wall 16 drawing the wall .19 downwardly on top of the double seam. The fully assembled position of the coveris illustrated in Fig. 3. The construction provides a readily removable and replaceable cover and one which will tightly engage the can body when assembled therewith, the enlarged portion 22 of the cover affording a suitable hand-hold for this purpose.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from I the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

A container having a metallic body comprising a cylindrical wall, and an end permanently seamed thereto in an hermetic joint protruding outwardly beyond a line passing through the in assembled position with the body, said flange being formed at its bottom peripheral edge with an inwardly bent portion which is expanded slightly by' the inclined surface of the upper part of the bulge and contracts into engagement against the inclined surface of the lower part of the bulge.

HENRY J. MILLER. 

